While I have been blogging for quite some time, the more I talk to my blogging friends, the more I realize I have a LOT to learn!!

*Post contains affiliate links*

Then came a post from a fellow blogger about a FREE blogging class.

Free? Yep, now that’s my kind of price! So, off to the website I went and this is what I discovered about the FREE class…

• Valued at over $100!!
• The Class Manual – 60 pages of helpful information to help take the stress out of starting or improving your own blog
  
• 4 weekly online class sessions - a chance to ask questions and receive feedback
• A FREE year of webhosting - Just for registering, you will receive a free year of webhosting, an $84 value!
• Access to tutorials, networking with other bloggers, and more! -Pretty much everything you need to take your blog to the next level!

There are so many things to learn and it is all FREE, but only until May 31st!

The classes will be held on Tuesday nights starting June 8th at 8pm EST. If you can’t attend the classes, that’s ok too. You will receive the notes via email!

Click here to register!

or here to see some great step-by-step tutorial videos

**Note: Chad and I have really talked and prayed a lot about whether or not to try to monetize my blog. For a long time, the answer was a clear no, but recently we have felt led to start at least trying to cover some of my costs. This means I will start to include some affiliate links and possibly, at some point, start offering advertising space. However, I will only promote items and companies that we have used and had a positive experience with.

Also, my goal is to bring glory to God by sharing our lives and faith with you, my readers. I pray that by doing this, you will receive encouragement and strength that only God can give you during the good times, and especially in the difficult ones.

My goal is not, never has been, and never will be to strike it rich as a blogger (although, if anyone wants to donate to my strike it rich fund, I’ll be glad to set up such a fund ).

So, all of that said to say, thank you for clicking on the links in this post and other posts that may include affiliate links in the future. By clicking on them and making purchases through my links, you will help support for my blogging habit.

The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe consists of over 4,000 enrolled members with most living in Halifax and Warren counties. The name Haliwa comes from a combination of these two counties, and in 1979, they added the name Saponi because they are descendants from the Saponi people of Virginia and North Carolina.

I was honored to learn about their culture in April when the girls and I had the opportunity to attend their 48th Annual Pow-wow. We walked the tribal grounds with my mom (the director of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School) and observed just a small amount of what happens behind the scenes before the pow-wow begins.

There were vendors with amazing Native American food. We tried two varieties of Indian fry bread one with honey and powdered sugar, another with chili, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and sour cream. YUM!! We also tried buffalo burger. Again, YUM!! The buffalo did not seem to have as much fat and was more dense than regular ground beef. It was really good! My girls liked the fry bread, but I think they were more impressed by the buffalo burger.

There were many beautiful and unique things to look at. The talent of those participating in the pow-wow was amazing. The beadwork, paintings, carvings, jewelry, and more were all so breathtaking!

Native American Handcrafted Beadwork

Native American Handcarved Gourds

Handpainted Native American Drum

Handmade Silver & Oyster Shell Necklace

These are knives carved from animal bones.

Handcrafted Buffalo Head Dreamcatcher

Native American Paintings

As those who were participating began to dress for their performances, we were able to witness even more beautiful artwork. Even their hair was an art form. I watched as the girls had their hair done in awe. I wanted my girls’ hair to grow to their waists overnight so I could fix it as beautifully as they did. haha

Their regalia (the outfits worn during performances) were also breathtaking. Many of them make their own regalia, I cannot imagine how many hours it must take. This video shows some of the pieces that have been made by one family. Again, the artwork is breathtaking!

Finally, the performances were beginning. The drummers and singers were so talented. Each region has their own style of song and dance. Men and women of all ages were dancing, singing, and drumming. One father said, about his toddler, He started dancing before he could walk! Based on the ages of some of these adorable little dancers, I believe that!

Tiny Performer

As the dancers entered the arena, they entered as groups based on the type of dance they were performing. While we watched all of these talented dancers, a couple of things really stood out to me.

Everyone that wanted to dance was included. There were dancers with obvious disabilities, one young man was dancing with the same talent as his fellow dancers, but he had the assistance of his walker. Also, those who were registered dancers entered the arena first, but I also heard them invite others who were not registered to enter the arena during the parade of dancers.

Also, the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe holds those who have served our country and their families at an honorable level of respect. They had members of the tribe who had served in the military as the color guard who presented the flags at the beginning of the procession of dancers and afterwards, they invited all of the active duty and veteran soldiers, and some of their family members, to join them in the arena. This warmed my heart since so many times I think we, as a society, forget what these men and women give up to serve our country.

Veterans of the U.S. Military Presenting Flags

Finally, we had the opportunity to meet many members of the tribe and the girls had their pictures taken with some of them. On our way back to South Carolina, the girls serenaded me with several hours of Native American song and declared they were going to become Indians like the people at the pow-wow so they can have those beautiful outfits, and sing and dance like all of those pretty girls.

Girls pose with Tribal Chief Ronald Richardson

Girls Pose With Performers

The girls and I have declared this to be an ultimate homeschool field trip!

Homeschooling? Not sure what to think or do about standardized testing and your child or children? Trying to weigh the pros and cons?

Join me at The Homeschool Post for Homeschool and the Standardized Test. I addressed some questions about what is standardized testing and what is the purpose, and then identified some pros, cons, and alternatives.

I would love to have you head over and share some of your thoughts on The Homeschool Post!